Latest news with #Lotteria
CNA
29-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- CNA
Commentary: Why do we revere fast food so much that we're building museums even for specific burgers?
BREDA, The Netherlands: More than 25 years ago, McDonald's introduced the McSpicy burger to Singapore - chicken thigh marinated in a spicy seasoning, breaded, deep-fried, and served on a sesame seed bun with shredded lettuce and mayonnaise. With an intense burn designed to suit the local palate, the McSpicy quickly became so popular that it remains a staple on the fast food chain's menu to this day. Over the last two weeks, McDonald's celebrated the burger's journey from inception to local icon. The McSpicy Museum, a pop-up event held from May 13 to May 25, transformed the open area next to McDonald's at Bugis Junction into an interactive space featuring reflex-testing games, trivia, photo booths and vibrant installations. As a Singaporean currently residing in Europe, I've noticed a stark contrast in attitudes towards fast food. Europeans often view fast food as low-status or unhealthy, associating it with rushed lifestyles or the working class. In contrast, fast food in Singapore is far from stigmatised. In fact, there are now more than 700 fast food establishments across the country, with two fast food giants - South Korea's Lotteria and America's Chick-fil-A - entering the market this year. CONVENIENCE CULTURE A quick search on online forums suggests a straightforward answer: Pragmatism. In a fast-paced urban environment like Singapore, convenience and value are key decision drivers. With only 22 per cent of Singaporeans cooking at home daily, fast food chains meet a critical demand for quick, reliable meals amid busy schedules. Conveniently located in malls and near MRT stations, fast food outlets deliver speed, order, and reliability - qualities highly prized by time-pressed, energy-sapped office workers and students. While local hawker stalls provide some of the country's cheapest meals, they often close on certain days or have limited hours. Fast food chains, by contrast, are almost always open for business, with some operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. With rising hawker prices, fast food may appeal to budget-conscious Singaporeans who desire air-conditioned comfort in the island's oppressive heat and humidity. To sweeten the deal, many chains also offer loyalty programmes that reward repeat customers with points redeemable for food or discounts, further increasing their value-for-money appeal. FAST FOOD AS CULTURAL SYMBOL Nostalgia also plays an important role in why fast food is so dear to the hearts of so many Singaporeans. Prior to the late 1970s, when McDonald's first arrived in Singapore, locals mostly ate at hawker centres and traditional eateries. The arrival of modern, clean, American, air-conditioned fast food chains introduced a new dining trend and symbolised a connection to Western culture and global modernity. While Europeans saw fast food more as a convenient or cheap alternative, Singaporeans saw it as aspirational or symbolically celebratory, as the arrival of fast food coincided with Singapore's rapid modernisation. What's now an ordinary burger was once seen as an 'atas' (upscale) treat then - a special indulgence beyond typical hawker fare. An entire generation of millennial children grew up perceiving birthday celebrations at McDonald's or Happy Meals - kid-sized meal sets that include small toys - as luxurious treats. In 2000, McDonald's Singapore launched a campaign where customers were able to purchase limited-edition Hello Kitty plushies with every Extra Value Meal. The toys sparked nationwide frenzy, with up to 300,000 people lining up at outlets island-wide and culminating in skirmishes and other public disturbances. This irrational devotion - willingness to risk injury for a plushie - effectively demonstrates how fast food transcends its utilitarian purpose in Singapore. We now celebrate fast food items and emblems like they are cultural artifacts because, in a way, they are. Over the years, McDonald's has even found its way into National Service marching songs, with staple menu items like Filet-O-Fish and apple pie shouted out in the lyrics. Eventually, purchasing a burger from McDonald's was no longer just about the burger - it was also about being part of the cultural moment. HYBRID CULTURE In some European societies, fast food is frowned upon because it is seen as the antithesis of traditional food culture and heritage. In 1999, French farmer and union official Jose Bove ransacked a McDonald's restaurant to protest American corporate influence and 'malbouffe' ('bad food'). He became something of a national celebrity in France, where the public saw his actions as a symbolic resistance to American cultural imperialism, globalisation's threat to traditional food practices, and a loss of culinary identity, particularly in a country like France with a long and rich gastronomic history. However, in Singapore, fast food was never perceived that way. Singaporeans have always simultaneously embraced globalisation and their traditional roots, often expecting international brands to adapt to local tastes and culture. McDonald's alone offers many more examples, with unique creations like the Nasi Lemak Burger and menu items tied to local holidays, like the Prosperity Burger for Chinese New Year. These items are not just food but cultural emblems. The McSpicy, specifically, is so embraced because it is genuinely hot by local standards - a rare and notable example of a Western brand successfully catering to local palates. We talk about it almost as a cultural rite of passage - a pain-pleasure experience that many Singaporeans can relate to, for better or worse. Other fast food giants have followed suit. KFC introduced the Rendang Rice Bucket and Curry Rice Buckets exclusively to its Singapore outlets. Pizza Hut experimented with durian cheese and assam laksa pizzas. Burger King had the Hainanese Tendergrill Chicken Burger as a hat-tip to our national dish, Hainanese chicken rice. The success of these localised menu items suggests Singaporeans' openness to adopting and adapting imports of global food culture with pride, rather than viewing them as threats. That a deep-fried chicken burger now commands a 'museum' event suggests just how far fast food has come in shaping our tastes, habits, and sense of self. Whether this marks a clever cultural fusion or compromise remains unclear. But in Singapore, at least, the McSpicy isn't just a burger - it's a story we've chosen to tell about ourselves.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
South Korean Lotteria set to expand into Philippines market
Lotteria, a South Korean fast-food chain, is planning to establish a presence in the Philippines market. The news was disclosed by the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Discussions took place on 16 May in Seoul between Trade Secretary Cristina Roque and representatives from Lotte GRS and other South Korean conglomerates, the Philippine Star reported citing the DTI. The talks focused on the conglomerates' investment and expansion strategies in the Philippines, with an emphasis on food service, franchising, and retail sectors. The companies are considering various investment avenues such as joint ventures, master franchise agreements, and operations tailored to the local market. Lotte GRS, the restaurant service division of Lotte Group, is specifically gearing up to introduce its brand, Lotteria, in the country. Over the next five year, the company aims to open a minimum of 30 stores. The newspaper quoted DTI as saying: 'This initiative has strong focus on local sourcing and workforce development. Additionally, other companies revealed plans to roll out modern convenience store models designed to meet the demands of consumers in the Philippines. A commitment was made to predominantly source products locally; more than 95% of items sold in their international outlets are procured from within the host nation. The dialogue also encompassed strategies for incorporating digital commerce solutions and enhancing last-mile delivery capabilities. Beyond food service and retail endeavours, South Korean entities are investigating prospects for restaurant growth and establishing import-export networks for Philippine agricultural and seafood commodities. A recent partnership has led to one company's announcement that it will open its inaugural outlet in Manila by August 2025. In August of the previous year, Aniai, a New York-based robotic kitchen startup, installed 15 hamburger grill robots across various burger chains in South Korea, including in Lotteria locations. "South Korean Lotteria set to expand into Philippines market" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
SoraNews24
25-05-2025
- Business
- SoraNews24
Mos Burger's new Ebi Ebi Fry Burger is on a whole other level
You won't find a burger like this at any other fast food chain in Japan right now. In the world of fast food, it's often thought that as long as something is delicious it's bound to sell well, but that's not always the case. Timing, luck and visibility are other factors for success, so sometimes you can find delicious items hiding on the menu that are sadly overlooked, and that's the case with the Ebi Ebi Fry Burger at Mos Burger. We've seen burgers containing ebi or 'shrimp' before, with big chains like Lotteria and McDonald's having their own versions, and even Mos Burger has an 'Ebi Katsu Burger' ('Shrimp Cutlet Burger') on the menu. ▼ The Ebi Katsu Burger However, what sets this new burger apart from the others is the fact that it contains two large fried shrimp, as opposed to a cutlet made with shrimp, and they're Pacific white shrimp, also known as King prawns, whose veins have been removed by hand. ▼ Available from 21 May, the Ebi Ebi Fry Burger is positioned as a 'premium burger' with a slightly upscale flavour. It's incredibly rare to find a burger containing actual pieces of fried shrimp, let alone ones of this high quality, so we immediately headed out to try it when it was released. Somehow it looked even better in real life than it did on the poster, and when we maneuvered our jaw around it to get a bite, a satisfying crunch gave way to moist sweetness as we bit into the beautifully fried shrimp. It was absolutely delicious, hitting all the right notes in terms of flavour and texture, with the plumpness of the meat making us feel like we were eating at a fine dining restaurant. We'd never tasted a burger quite like it, and we'd go so far as to say it was incredible. The presence of the shrimp was outstanding, and perfectly enhanced by the carefully crafted tartar sauce, which had a hint of lemon and standout aromas of herbs like basil and dill. Honey is also used in the sauce to help counteract the acidity, creating a rich yet sweet and refreshing partner for the shrimp. This burger epitomises the greatness of Mos's 'made-to-order system' — as the burger was freshly made, and the shrimp freshly fried, it adds to the overall deliciousness. It was honestly on a whole other level to anything you'll get at a rival fast food chain, and so good that you won't even mind paying 670 yen (US$4.67) for it, as the slightly higher price point is totally warranted for the level of quality it delivers. With people tightening their purse strings amidst rising costs of living, it's understandable that the burger is yet to receive widespread fame on social media, but a burger this good won't remain a secret for long so be sure to try it while you can before it disappears from the menu in mid-July. Related: Mos Burger Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
Time Out
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Singapore's first Lotte Mart Express is now open with popular Korean snacks, street food and ramyeon bar
Fans of Korean cuisine have plenty to be excited about this year, with beloved South Korean bakery Standard Bread and fast food chain Lotteria both gearing up to make their Singapore debut. In the meantime, those eager for a taste of South Korea can head to the newly opened Lotte Mart Express. Singapore's first Lotte Mart Express is now open inside FairPrice Xtra at VivoCity. Though compact, the space is packed with a wide range of Korean treats and essentials. Pick up café latte drinks, stock up on the ever-popular banana milk, and browse through various seaweed snacks. You can even snag the XL ramyeon packs here. It's not just grab-and-go snacks either – you can dine in too. Head over to the ramyeon cooking station to fix that MSG craving. Choose from a variety of instant noodles, including the fiery Buldak ramen series, and enhance your meal with optional toppings such as cheese, sausages, fishballs, and crabsticks are available at an additional charge. There's also a mini kitchen serving hot, freshly prepared South Korean street food including kimbap, spicy dakgangjeong, eomuk, and rose tteokbokki. Do note that the food sold here is not halal-certified. Don't forget to pop by the self-service photobooth while you're here. While it's not as elaborate as the ones you see in Myeongdong, having a mini photoshoot with your haul is a fun way to commemorate your time here. Lotte Mart Express is also currently running a promotion where shoppers who spend $30 or more will receive a gachapon token, which can be used to redeem snacks.
Korea Herald
28-03-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Burger chain Lotteria to raise prices on higher costs
Lotteria, a burger chain operated by Lotte Group's affiliate Lotte GRS Co., will raise prices of its main products next week to pass higher costs onto customers, Lotte GRS said Friday. Lotteria will raise the prices of 65 items, including 23 burgers, beverages and desserts, by an average of 3.3 percent from Thursday, Lotte GRS said in a press release. Of them, the flagship Ria Bulgogi and Ria Shrimp burgers will be sold for 5,000 won ($3.41) per unit, up from the current 4,800 won, it said. "The price hikes were inevitable to reflect a variety of rising costs, the won's weakness (against the dollar) and high raw materials prices due to climate change," the company said. The move came just eight months after it announced 3.3 percent price hikes for its main products in August last year. Food, coffee and beverage companies have recently increased their product prices, citing higher costs and the won's weakness against the greenback that pushes up their spending on raw materials mostly imported from overseas. Starting March 20, McDonald's Korea raised the prices of 20 menu items by an average of 2.3 percent, pushing the price of the signature Big Mac meal by 200 won to 7,400 won. Many others, including Starbucks Korea, instant noodle maker Nongshim Co. and dumplings maker CJ Cheiljedang Corp., have also raised their product prices. (Yonhap)
